8,000 seedlings up for grabs in 4 NCR cities on Arbor Day
THE FIELD offices of the Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) in Metro Manila will open four community “PanTrees” to distribute free seedlings of fruit-bearing trees and vegetables in celebration of Philippine Arbor Day on June 25.
DENR National Capital Region (NCR) Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan told BusinessWorld in phone call on Thursday that a total of 8,000 seedlings are up for distribution across the four sites from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
These will be located in the following covered basketball courts: Barangay Lower Bicutan, Taguig; Barangay 863, Pandacan in Manila; Barangay UP Campus, Quezon City; and Barangay Marikina Heights, Marikina.
On Arbor Day, government agencies and the public are encouraged to participate in tree planting activities.
“The roll-out of the PanTrees will be simultaneous, then we’ll take it from there on what the public’s response will be. And then we’ll line up the barangays (that the panTREES will visit),” she said.
Earlier this week, the DENR brought its mobile community PanTree project to Barangay 163 in Caloocan City where residents were able to receive free seedlings of guyabano, mango, jackfruit, among other fruits and vegetables.
In April, the DENR-NCR began a community PanTree at its headquarters in Quezon City with the goal of promoting urban and backyard gardening, while helping residents cope with quarantine fatigue and other mental health issues associated with the global health emergency. — Angelica Y. Yang
